Impressions of the Bible from Ethiopia

What struck me immediately upon viewing the Bible from Ethiopia was how innate the principals of design are to human communication. As I clicked through the pages, I could see examples of contrast, repetition, alignment and proximity on nearly every page.

I immediately noticed the use of contrast to add visual interest and vibrancy to the images. On each page complementary colors were used to create detailed illustrations that drew my attention. Shades of orange, red, yellow paired with opposite shades of green and blue to convey the mood and feeling of the text. This was especially noticeable on the Crucifixion page. The colors spoke loudly as they told the story of the Jewish people and Christianity from Abraham through the life of Jesus and on through His disciples. Contrast is also evidenced in the text through the use of red to highlight passages.

This image of the 12 apostles from the Bible of Ethiopia shows
the use of contrast, repetition, alignment and proximity.
image http://kootation.com/british-library-add-ms-59874-ethiopian-bible-jpg-wikimedia-commons.html

I also immediately noticed the repetition of certain visual elements not only in the design of the book but the structure of the text as well. In each illustration, repeated visual elements and colors are used to carry the story forward as well as identify characters.

A two column alignment is used throughout the text to break up the text and make it more readable. The illustrations also evidence alignment through the use of symmetry. Symmetry is visually predictable and helps focus the eye on details. The illustration shown on this page shows how symmetry works to focus on details. Even without being able to read the text, it is clear who is being portrayed in this illustration and, possibly, identify each disciple.

Finally, proximity is used to link the text to the illustrations and within the illustrations to effectively communicate the message. More importantly, the concept of proximity is used to convey feelings about what is occurring on the page. I believe this is especially true in the background colors. As the story progresses, color is used to unify the illustrations and generate emotions in the viewer. Dark backgrounds are used in illustrations depicting sadness, grief, strife; light backgrounds are used to depict joy, enlightenment, hope. Using these colors in proximity to the message creates a relationship between words and pictures that creates emotions in the person viewing the text.

It is fascinating that the principals of design still used today are rooted in the 15th century, when this bible was first written.